Of all the treasures I find on my hikes, my favorites are skulls and skeletons. I love the way bare bones stand out stark against any landscape. After years of seeking, I can spot them in tall grass, in woods, in brush. I love lifting them off the ground, shaking out the debris from the cracks and crevasses and studying their contours. Bare bones have such gravity; they demand respect and I handle them carefully, looking and listening, while they tell me their stories. I can tell prey from predator, ungulate from bovine, canine from feline. As far as I know I’ve never found a human bone.

Bare bones are the ultimate offerings, left behind by those who have come before me. I find them most often off trail, where I’m likely to be the first person to have passed since the animal laid down to die, or was killed and eaten. I have no right to claim such sacred objects as my own. They belong to the land, to any enterprising animal who might come along and carry them away. After admiring the bones, recreating the animal’s life and death, and photographing them thoroughly, I leave the offerings in a safe spot where I can revisit them, someday, if I’m lucky enough to pass that way again.

Snake Skeleton, Shenandoah, Virginia

Kansas Cow Skull & D.O.G.

Big Horned Sheep, Collegiate Peaks, Colorado

Coyote! Wild Rivers, New Mexico

Jackrabbit!

Elk & D.O.G., San Antonio Dome, New Mexico

Bowie & Nebraska Bone

Old Cow Bone, Cerrillos, New Mexico

5-point Antler from a 10-point Buck, Northern New Mexico

The Blonde Coyote & Goat Skull, Cerrillos, New Mexico

Coyote Skull, Juniper Tree, Cerrillos, New Mexico

Bowie’s Treasure, Cerrillos, New Mexico

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About theblondecoyote

Mary Caperton Morton is a freelance science and travel writer with degrees in biology and geology and a master’s in science writing. A regular contributor to EARTH magazine, where her favorite beat is the Travels in Geology column, she has also written for the anthologies Best Women's Travel Writing 2010 and Best Travel Writing 2011. Mary is currently based in Big Sky, Montana. When she’s not at the computer she can usually be found outside -- hiking, skiing, climbing mountains and taking photographs. Visit her website at www.marycapertonmorton.com.

The Snake was my fav. At first sight I thought it was a millipede/or centipede bc of the ribs. You see skins all the time, but not too often whole skeletons! Thanks for these pic, and your respect of your subjects.

I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again. I love seeing that there is a new post on your blog. Each time I visit I’m reminded of many things. Simplicity. Attention. Focus. Passion. Thanks for your beautiful words and equally beautiful images.

I have never seen an intact snake skeleton like this.

May I ask a technical question? How do you archive your images? What tool do you use? Lightroom? I am especially intrigued because I know you are mobile and work on a laptop. I am currently working across three laptops and need to organize my work; thought you might have some good tips.

I love that you put your bone pics together in a collection. You have a great eye. While looking through your post I couldn’t help but think about all the bones I have passed by without taking a picture. Inspirational post, thanks!

the picture of Freckles is so endearing. Her ears look like an extra super peak in the hills, ha. We went to a friends the other night and she had 5 tiny little bird skulls she had found out hiking in Cerrillos. Wished you were there looking at them with me. Wanted to bandit those skulls and make a shrine to Gaia, but nobody likes a thief.❤